Automatic latch for wind-shields.



H. W. FENTON.

AUTOMATIC LATCH FOR WIND SHIELDS.

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 6, 1909.

Patentd Feb. 24, 1914.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT W. FENTON, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

AUTOMATIC LATCH FOR WIND-SHIELDS.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, HERBERT W. FENTON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erieand State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements inAutomatic Latches for Wind-Shields, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an automatic latch for various uses, forinstance, in folding automobile wind shields having stationary andmovable sashes capable of being shifted one relatively to the other forpro-l tecting the occupant from or exposing the same to the weather asmay best suit the occupant during different wind and weather conditions.

The object of this invention is to provide simple and efficient meanswhereby the movable sash of the shield may be easily and convenientlyshifted into different positions, as desired, and reliably held in placeafter adjustment.

Tn the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of thefront part of an automobile wind shield equipped with my improved latch.Fig. 2 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of one of the telescopicstay rods for holding the movable sash of the shield in place. Fig. 3 isa cross section in line 3 3 Fig. 2. Figs. A .and 5 are perspective viewsof the roller and follower of the detent device.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views.

Those parts of the automobile with which my improved latch for a windshield is associated and which are shown in the drawings comprise a mainframe A, a hood B arranged on the front part of said frame and anupright dash C arranged on the frame in rear of the hood.

The wind shield comprises a lowerA stationary sash or section D and anupper movable sash or section D1, each sash having a frame d and a paneZ1 of glass or similar material within the frame. The lower sash issecured at its lower edge to the upper edge of the dash in an uprightposition and transversely of the automobile. The lower sash is sustainedat its upper end by means of two braces each of which consists of ahorizontal arm e projecting forwardly from one of the upper corners ofthe frame of the lower sash and an inclined longitudinal rodSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application led December 6, 1909.

Patented Feb. 24, 1916i. serial No. 551,558.

c1 connected at its elevated rear end with the front end of the arm cwhile its depressed rear end is connected with the adjacent part of theautomobile frame.

The upper sash or section of the wind shield is pivoted at its loweredge by means of hinges f to the upper edge of the lower sash so thatthe upper sash may be swung either into an upright position, asindicated in full lines in Fig. l, or may be turned backwardly anddownwardly into different positions, as indicated by dotted lines in thesame figure, to suit the weather conditions.

My improvements relate more particularly to the retaining device wherebythe upper sash is held in the different positions into which the samemay be shifted. This staying device comprises two inclined telescopicstay rods G each of which has a tubular outer member g and an innermember g1, preferably solid, arranged within the outer member. Themembers of each stay rod are slidable lengthwise one upon the `other andone member, preferably the outer,

is pivotally connected at its upper rear end by a bolt /t or otherwisewith the adjacent upright side bar of the upper sash frame about midwayof the height thereof while the other or inner member is pivotallyconnected at its lower front end by a bolt h1 or otherwise with theadjacent brace preferably at the junction of the arm and rod thereof.The inner and outer members of each stay rod are preferably made squareor flat sided in cross section so as to prevent the same from turningrelatively to each other. Upon turning the upper movable section of theshield with reference to the lower section the two members of each stayrod slide lengthwise relatively to each other and also swing in avert-ical plane in adapting themselves to the changing position of theupper shield section or sash.

For the purpose of yieldingly holding the upper sash in its adjustedposition, a detent device is applied to the members of each sectionalstay rod which is preferably constructed as follows: H represents acylindrical casing or guideway secured to the tubular section of thest-ay rod so as to project laterally therefrom and having its inner endcommunicating with the bore of said stay rod section by an opening LZ inthe side of the latter. The outer end of this guideway is closed by acap I which is adjustably connected with the guideway by means of ascrew connection therewith. On that side vof the inner stay rod sectionwhich faces the guideway said section is provided with a longitudinalrow of notches Z of concave form in a direction lengthwise of the stayrod. This side of the latter is engaged by the inner side of acylindrical detent roller j which projects from the guideway H throughthe opening h2 into the tubular stay rod section and which has its axisarranged transversely of said stay rod. On its outer side the detentroller is engaged by a follower K preferably of cylindrical form whichis guided in the guideway d and which is provided with two inwardlyproject-ing iianges or lugs Z, Z which straddle the detent roller andengage with opposite fiat sides of the same. M represents a coil springarranged in the outer part of the guideway and bearing at its inner endagainst the outer side of the follower while its outer end bears againstthe inner side of the' screw cap I. This spring holds the detent rolleryieldingly in contact with the inner stay rod sectionV and this tensioncan be varied to suit the requirements by adjusting the screw cap Iaccordingly.

Vhen the upper sash of the shield is in an upright position each detentroller engages with the lowermost or outermost notch of its inner stayrod section and is held frictionally in this position by the tension ofthe spring M. Upon pressing the upper sash backwardly and downwardlysufiiciently t-o cause the inner stay rod section to slidein theoutersection and overcome the tension of the spring M the detent rollery' willfbe deflected out of the path of the inner stay rod section bythe cam action of the active notch in this section against the detentroller. When the upper sash and inner stay rod have been moved farenough to bring another notch z' opposite the detent roller y' t-helatter is pressed into the same by the spring l and the parts areretained in this position unless the pressure upon the upper sash iscontinued for folding the same to a greater extent and until the detentroller engages with the notch z' corresponding to the desired positionof the upper sash. rThis shifting of the upper sash can be effectedquickly and with ease and after adjustment this sash is securely heldagainst displacement. On its inner side or bore the guideway is providedwith outwardly facing stops or shoulders m which are adapted to beengaged by the inner ends of the follower lugs Z, Z and thereby limitthe inward movement of the follower. The diameter of the detent rolleris also greater than the bore of the tubular stay rod section wherebythis roller cannot turn at an angle nor move lengthwise in the tubularouter stay rod section. By this means the detent device is preventedfrom becoming displaced when the inner stay rod section is withdrawnfrom the outer section in dismembering the parts for inspection,cleaning or repairing. The upper or inner end of the inner stay rodsection is tapered or beveled as shown at a in Fig. 2, so that uponpushing this section into the outer section upon assembling the partsthe detentroller will be deflected out of the path of the inner rodsection and caused to ride on the upper side of the latter.

I claim as my invention:

The combination of an outer tubular member provided with a laterallyprojecting guide tube, an inner member arranged within said outer memberand provided with a longitudinal row of notches, said members beingmovable lengthwise relatively to one another, a detent roller ofcylindrical form arranged in said guide tube and engaging with one ofsaid notches, a follower arranged in said `guide tube and provided witha recess on its inner side which receives said roller, a screw capapplied to the outer end of said guide tube, and a spring arranged insaid guide tube and bearing at its opposite ends against said followerand cap.

vWitness my hand this 3rd day of December, 1909.

HERBERT W. FENTON.

Vitnesses z THEO. L. Porn, ANNA Hniois.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

